Grand Island BOE: Audit shows district in good standing

by jmaloni

Fri, Nov 2nd 2012 10:00 pm

by Kathleen
Duff

The
Grand Island Board of Education held a joint meeting with the Grand
Island Town Board Monday evening at Grand Island High School. In the
latter part of the meeting, trustees considered a varied agenda
consisting of mostly updates on long-standing projects and issues.

An
accountant from Lumsden and McCormick LLP gave a brief summary of the
2011-12 external audit of the district's "books" as required by
the State Education Department. Grand Island continues in very good
standing financially. Trustees accepted and approved the report.

In
capital project updates, Director of Business and Finance Joe
Giarrizzo told the board that he has several avenues of public
communication planned before the public vote on the new
transportation center on Tuesday, Dec. 18. The information will go
out on www.k12.ginet.org, the
district's Facebook page, the Grand Island PennySaver and Island
Dispatch, "lobby boards" in all school buildings and via public
presentations at:

Also
regarding the capital project, the board approved the State
Environmental Quality Review which found that the capital project
would not negatively impact the environment in terms of wetlands on
Grand Island. The $51 million plus project includes a large
technology wing and major auditorium renovations at Grand Island High
School, a connecting addition to Kaegebein School, and many health,
safety and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) upgrades and
repairs. Details may be viewed at the district website.

In
his Superintendent's Report, Robert Christmann said that the local
and Regents exam testing day is Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. He
explained that in previous years, students not taking exams did not
attend classes for a full five days of "Regents Week," but that
in this coming year, two days of instructional time would be restored
to the schedule. He also told the board that technology teachers met
with the Niagara Sunday Fliers to discuss at length how the club
would be interfacing with students in the program.

The
next meeting of the Grand Island Board of Education will be at Huth
Road School on Monday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. Administrators and
trustees will tour the school.